Highlander

This series is a seamless excerpt from the time line of the Highlander movies. A science fiction fantasy deluxe, the tale of Duncan McLeod, of the klan McLeod, becomes a realistic, believable, secret world hidden within our own. The only "real" sadness is Duncan's eternal loneliness due to the eventual deaths of all he allows near. Mortals are so fragile and, as for immortals, "There can be only one!"

Very easy to get caught up in, my children and I each carried katanas (plastic sword replicas) for many months during the original run of the series. Duplicating sword "riffs" and "taking" heads made for many hours of "immortal" fun.

Try to catch "HIGHLANDER" from the beginning episode and follow Duncan through the centuries of his life (in present day and flashback sequences). He adapts to all "times" and we get to learn perspective on present day and (supposedly) historical events immortals have influenced or shaped.

Too bad it's gone, but you can only save the world so many times before it gets old. There are re-runs though......

This has to be one of the best Sci-Fi series out there. Adrian Paul is an excellent actor and fits the part perfect as Duncan. The first season was really over the top with Tessa. Duncan and Tessa made an excellent couple.

All in all, an excellent series. Only thing is, it should have went on for some more seasons, but running as many years as it did is indication enough to tell you it's a great series. Highlander fans will love it.

I always like how Duncan has the 'flashbacks' to previous 'lives'. Just adds to the character and shows what he had to do and go through throughout his immortal life.

Your average „Highlander"-fan had a hard time deciding whether a series following two sequels to the original movie: having watched the abominable "Highlander: The Sorcerer" and "Highlander: The Quickening", arguably one of the worst movies ever produced, had left scars and had made the fan suspicious.

And how could one not have watched the pilot, knowing that Christopher Lambert would reprise his role as Connor McLeod, introducing the series leading man, Duncan McLeod (Adrian Paul)? The first seasons were slightly tedious, being too TV-ish and, apparently, produced in auto-mode: a few flashbacks in time, Duncan battling (and eventually beheading, though always TV-compatible; no blood, no gore) another immortal; Duncan's relationship with Tessa, etc. Often Adrian Paul's sidekicks, namely Richie (Stan Kirsch) and Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen) would become tedious but casting Adrian Paul – although it's unlikely that the actor will ever score an Oscar – compensating for a lot, him having a similar amiable acting style to the original Highlander, Christopher Lambert. By the end of the second season, story lines became more concrete, interesting and the guest-stars more selected – to name just a few, Roger Daltrey, Kabir Bedi, Werner Stocker, hey, even Roland Gift, singer of the "Fine Young Cannibals", played an immortal.

It may not matter to the general viewer, but what has bothered many-a more 'fanatic' fan, is the fact that the series kept altering the "Highlander"-canon: there are female immortals (not being chauvinistic, but such it was in the original film), the "Quickening" was no longer about the assembling of the last immortals, but simply a prize, which one immortal from each generation could win; the immortals actually died for a while when being 'killed', then returned to life, while the immortals in "Highlander" never died, may they be underwater, having their throats cut or being crushed by elevators. Or take the concept of 'The Watchers', even though Sean Connery assured us that, "no one hash ever known we were among you....until now". But how else to keep a long-running TV-series running, without adding or changing something in the storyline? All in all, one was saddened when the series finally came to an end, having gotten fond of the characters and willing to watch a few more episodes. It was a good seven year run, definitely worth watching, even if you've skipped the last three installments of the "Highlander" movie-franchise.

Overall, a good 7 points from 10.

Far superior to the films, for every reason: Better venue for developing the mythos and the characters, better opportunity to explore the nature and implications of immortality, and a far superior leading man for all the reasons we choose them. Adrian Paul (who inspires whole libraries of romance novels) looks magnificent and convincing in any time period and has ALL the right moves. He's also a vastly superior actor to Christopher Lambert. It is easy to see why the producers regretted not having made Duncan MacLeod immortal in an earlier time period; not only would there have been more history to explore and a richer background for Duncan, but it would have provided more visual riches for the audience.

The series jumped the shark after season 5, which I think had some of its best episodes: "Comes a Horseman", "Revelation 6:8", "Duende", "Dramatic License", "Little Tin God". "The Stone of Scone," which has its defects, represents an episode type that this series should have done more of: a complete flashback without 20th C references. The possibilities of such episodes were a missed opportunity.

Ever feel that good things go to those who don't deserve them? If only someone who could do it justice had gotten hold of Gregory Widen's brilliant idea. But no. So I just pretend that the ending of the original movie and all the other movies never happened, as well as all the stupidity of the last season of the series. (who ever heard of the hero only appearing in about 3 episodes of the final season?) I just wish the show had taken itself a little more seriously. Here was a grand opportunity to bring some genuine high concept to TV and the series did that in many respects. However, it was made in the 90's and the bits which seem out of place now were, I suppose, the best they could do. Still, the series was the first of a wonderful kind of modern fantasy TV genre, which has been followed by the Crow: Stairway to Heaven, and now Witchblade. (If only the writers of Witchblade had written the series! Not to mention if the series would've had those kind of effects.) I just pick and choose what fits with my personal vision of highlander. Watch it yourself and make up your own mind- it is definately worth it.

Final Words: Quit making the idiotic movie sequels. Give Methos his own show and set it entirely in the past.